It’s Part 5 and the final post in our Getting Started on Etsy series. You’ve got everything set up, your shop is filled with listings, it’s time to let people know that you’re ready! One can not rely on titles and tags alone so today we’re going to talk a bit about promotion!

There are many avenues to explore when it comes to promoting your shop. I am by no means an expert but I am going to touch base on a few places that have really helped me along the way.

Teams – there are many different kinds of teams on Etsy. Teams can be based on geographical location, products, promotion, Etsy help, support, etc. No matter which kind you join, Teams are a wonderful resource for support and promotion. I’ve made sales through my teams, business connections and collaborations and lasting friendships with people all over the world that I would have otherwise never met. Teams also provide opportunity to be involved with Etsy on a different level like test groups or even becoming market organizers! Be active on your teams. Post in team threads, respond to team convos, participate in team promotions or sales. The more active you are the more likely you will be to make connections and help build a shop following on and off Etsy. Explore the thousands of Etsy Teams to find some that interest you or become a Team Captain and start a team of your own!

Social Media – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are kind of like the big four but there are many others. Social media is a great place to communicate your brand. Post about your process, when you’ve added a new listing, what market you’ll be selling at next, etc. Be sure to include some posts about your personal life such as family, hobbies, travels, etc. so that buyers and followers can feel more connected to you and the items they purchase. Also within Etsy be sure to activate Facebook and Twitter so that buyers can follow you directly from your shop page! Go to Shop Settings and then Info & Appearance. Social media is great because it’s a convenient place for buyers to follow you and keep up to date on your shops happenings (new listings, sales, vacation dates, limited edition products, etc.).

Don’t forget to follow Etsy and Etsy Canada, Etsy Teams you belong to, potential markets in your area, other sellers, etc. on social media too. Like teams, social media is a great place to make connections and keep up to date on what’s happening. Be sure to like and comment on others posts. Think of it as virtual networking!

Blogs – Find blogs with similar themes to your shop and start commenting on the posts. Offer to write a guest post for the blog such as a diy or product roundup. Typically at the bottom of your guest post you would include a short bio about yourself and you can include a link to your Etsy shop. Doing guest posts on blogs can give you some weight as a professional and expert in your field which attracts buyers to want to know more about your products and possibly even buy from you.

Another great way to utilize blogs is to create one of your own. You can show behind the scenes photos of your workshop/office as well as info about the process that goes into make your products. Just like social media be sure to also post about your personal life too. Include recipes, photos from your travels, diy’s and tutorials, your hobbies. These posts allow buyers to get to know you better and feel more connected to the purchase they’ve made or are thinking about making.

About Page – On Etsy be sure to fill out your About page. Tell the story behind your shop and how you started. Share how you came up with your shop name. Explain why you use the materials you do or where they’re sourced from. Add a personal touch to your About page by including some family details or tell why you live where you do. The About page is the best place within Etsy to really tell your story to potential buyers and followers. Use all 5 photos spots to show pictures of your products as well as behind the scenes photos of your workshop and process. Include yourself in some of the photos too! It’s always fun to see the face behind the products. Finally, add your social media and blog links on your About page too so people can follow you off of Etsy as well.

Final Tips:
Sign up with the same shop name on every site (social media sites and blog for example) so that people can find you easily and there’s consistency within your brand.

Maintain a well stocked shop (at least one page of listings). Having a well stocked shop gives a professional and organized feel to your shop, it offers variety and provides more opportunity to get featured both on and off of Etsy. As someone who features a lot of shops nothing bothers me more than finding a great shop only to discover that they only have 3 or 4 listings. Buyers will feel the same way!

Photos, photos, photos!! Sometimes it’s the mood or emotion that the photo evokes that pushes a buyer over the edge when it comes to committing to the sale so spend some time and really perfect your photos. Use natural lighting and make sure to be consistent with your photos. Use the same setting or similar backgrounds and photo props to create a cohesive look throughout your shop. Good photographs give off a sense of professionalism so use them to your advantage.

We’ve covered a lot in this series. We wanted to give you a general overview of how to get started on Etsy but don’t be afraid to click around the site yourself. Explore what other tools Etsy has to offer such as Vacation Mode, Etsy Widgets and Badges, Coupon Codes, Stats, Gift Cards, the list goes on! Check out the Etsy Seller Handbook and Etsy Help to find out more about the topics we’ve covered and many other areas of Etsy. Hopefully after reading through this series you can feel confident about starting your shop and seeing where your business can go!

Don’t forget to use our code CALGARY on the promotions page to receive your first 20 listings free! If you have any questions about anything in this series please post a comment! We’d love to hear from you! Happy selling!